Gerald Tenywa
6 January 2009
Kampala — TULLOW oil has dropped a proposal to locate a mini oil refinery inside Kabwoya wildlife reserve following concerns from environmentalists.
"The report from Tullow that has been holding the Early Oil production scheme has been submitted to us," said Dr. Aryamanya Mugisha, the executive head of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
"It will be shared by the different stakeholders for discussion before the final approval," he added.
This follows recommendations at a public hearing in Hoima district four months ago over the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study conducted on the Early Production Scheme.
EIA is a study to establish the likely ecological and social implications of a proposed initiative to mitigate the adverse impacts of the undertaking.
Waiswa Ayazika, a NEMA official, said Tullow had submitted an additional report indicating that the refinery will instead be constructed at Kaiso Tonya community conservation area, which is outside the reserve.
Ayazika said during the public hearing, there was overwhelming concern over the citing of the mini oil refinery inside the protected area from environmental organisations like the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, the Wildlife Conservation Society and Nature Uganda.
Isiah Owuinji, a conservation projects manager at the World Wildlife fund in Kampala, yesterday described the relocation of the mini oil refinery as a landmark achievement.
"It shows a lot of goodwill from the investor and Government," Owuinji said in an interview.
He also said it was good that civil society organisations had become less confrontational, adding that they were working with the Government to ensure that oil extraction leads to sustainable development.
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